Dear All
Phone hacking started out as the actions of a ‘rogue’ reporter at the news of the World, the News International Group was quick to apologise and hoped the thing would die down.
The News International Group has brought to the public domain many scandals, outed many people that needed to be exposed, a lot of good was done; unfortunately some people didn’t when to stop at the ‘public interest’ test.
When a culture becomes so rotten; it will eventually implode whether it is in business or politics.
Press and politicians need each other by the phone hacking scandal has set new boundaries at least for the foreseeable future.
The Murdoch Empire is persona non grata in the Westminster Village, highly toxic; they have lost many an ear which was normally open to them.
For those who did nothing wrong, they are getting punished along with the guilty by association.
So far, eight people have been charged in relation to phone hacking, including former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks.
Previously Rupert Murdoch stood by her, but he seems to be absent now.
Along with Brooks, Andy Coulson, who was working for David Cameron until January last year is in a spot of bother!
‘Does he look bothered’?
I think we can safety say yes on that front.
Eight people are facing a total of 19 charges.
Brooks will face two charges, one relating to the alleged accessing of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone messages.
Coulson, is also accused in relation to allegedly hacking into Milly’s phone, Crown Prosecution Service legal adviser Alison Levitt QC said.
The others are Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup.
Five others of the 13 people referred to the CPS will face no further action, they must be so happy.
Ms Levitt said:
“All, with the exception of Glenn Mulcaire, will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority, from 3 October, 2000, to 9, August 2006.
“The communications in question are the voicemail messages of well-known people and/or those associated with them. There is a schedule containing the names of over 600 people whom the prosecution will say are the victims of this offence.”
For the current government, this also looks bad in that some of the accused are known to David Cameron personally and he did hire Andy Coulson but on the recommendation of George Osborne.
The Milly Dowler case is still the lightening rod of this unusual event and such things will probably figure in the minds of any jury since pound to a penny the CPS are going to mention that one.
So many people got hacked that it is said to run into thousands as the news hungry Murdoch Press targeted celebs and politicians among the alleged victims such as David Blunkett, Charles Clarke, John Prescott, and Tessa Jowell, footballer Wayne Rooney and former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
And as everyone likes showbiz, Hollywood stars Jude Law, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and celebrities Calum Best, Abigail Titmuss, John Leslie, Delia Smith, Sadie Frost, Sienna Miller, Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, were also named as alleged victims in the charge sheets.
Ironically, the biggest story is still to come as the accused face their day in court and when the verdict is read out, expect a big splash.
The Murdoch crew did a lot of good but besides having that ability; they also did a lot of evil as well.
And that is a great pity.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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